An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising: means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide; means for displaying the interactive television program guide; means for providing a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive program guide; means for receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility; means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording; means for, at the user equipment, (a) removing the copy protection from the selected program, (b) providing the selected program without copy protection, and (c) directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection; means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and means for providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.
2. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.
3. A method for using an interactive program guide system using user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising: receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide; displaying the interactive television program guide; providing a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide; receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility; offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording; removing using the user equipment the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection; offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.
4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.
5. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising: communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide; display circuitry configured to display the interactive television program guide; circuitry configured to receive a program with copy protection from a television distribution facility; circuitry implemented in the user equipment configured to remove copy protection from received programs; and control circuitry configured to (1) provide a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide, (2) direct the display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording, (3) direct the tuner circuitry to tune to the selected program with copy protection, (4) direct the circuitry to remove the copy protection from the selected program and provide the selected program without copy protection and a video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection, (5) direct the display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing, and (6) direct the tuner circuitry to provide the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.
6. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 5 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.
7. A machine-readable medium for implementing an interactive television program guide comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide; providing a first opportunity for a user to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide; receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility; offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording; removing using the user equipment the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection; offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.
8. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 7 further having machine program logic recorded thereon for offering the program wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 24, 2003
May 29, 2012
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